Two Good Reasons, Part 19
Summary: Nobody messes with Andy's family.
Pairings: Andy Barber X Reader
Rating: Mature
Warnings: language, intense topics, childhood anxiety, showering together, Ransom, 18+ ONLY
Word Count: 7.7K
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Series Masterlist
*Dividers created by @firefly-graphics
Andy’s thumb calmly moves over your hand. He hasn’t left your side, and he hasn’t dropped your hand. He just sits beside you, staring out into space or at your beautiful face. When he got the call from Ransom with an address, he couldn’t see straight. He couldn’t even think. His body moved on his own accord, and the only thing running through his mind is he needed to get to you and Audrey.
He closes his eyes, and a few tears drift down his cheeks. The heart monitor a constant reminder of what he could have lost. And all because some insecure little bitch of a man could not accept the reality he had made of his life. Andy would not have recovered if anything happened to the two of you. Four of you.
He’s beyond exhausted. It had been a long day in court, but everything faded into the background with one call. The world stopped moving when he saw you leaned up against Scott’s wrecked car. Your physical pain is evident in the way you were standing. Clinging onto Audrey, your entire body trembling as a steady flow of blood and fluid ran down your legs. Audrey was okay, your body was in so much agony, but the adrenaline was keeping you from feeling it. Until you knew he had her.
He didn’t know if Ryden and Everly were okay, he just felt hopeless. He’d always heard about a mother’s love, but he never felt it from his own mom. He’d never seen it until earlier today. You were almost inhuman holding onto her. Women’s bodies are amazing, and there is no greater testament to that than him watching you be unaware of what was happening because Audrey was safe.
Andy leans his head back, on the uncomfortable chair. A chair that he will deal with because you saved his daughter while your body was going through preterm labor. He’ll suffer whatever he has to because nothing can be as bad as what you endured. Or the pain he felt thinking something had happened to any of you.
Ransom stands in the doorway of your room. His eyes moving between you, Andy, and the little girl that is draped across his chest like a koala. Trying to get Audrey to go home with your mom was excruciating. She kicked, screamed, and cried to Andy to just stay with you. Upset herself so much she couldn’t even breathe. Andy picked her up, held her against his chest, and he’s not let go since.
The only thing not holding onto her is the hand in your own. Ransom had been wandering around the hospital. Looking for someone. And then he saw Scott, hooked up to an IV, with oxygen, and his hand cuffed to the bed, and all he could think about was putting air pockets in his IVs.
“How’s she doing?” Andy lifts his head up long enough to peep at Ransom before laying his head back on the chair. “Doe, I mean.”
He swallows deeply, “They were able to halt labor. She’s going to be on complete bed rest for at least two weeks. Both babies are okay,” Andy’s face contorts as he tries to hold in his tears, “I almost lost them.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I could have.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I won’t lose her again,” he sniffles. He lifts his hand off Audrey’s back to wipe away his tears, “I know what it’s like to live without her, and I won’t do it again. And now,” Andy gulps, and holds onto Audrey even tighter, “Now I’ve got so much more to lose.”
Ransom stands in the doorway a few moments before softly walking into the room. He brings a chair to Andy’s side, and holds out his hands. “I’ll hold her for a little bit.”
“I’m good,” Andy whispers. It’s not that he doesn’t trust Ransom, but he needs Audrey as much as she needs him.
“I don’t care to share this responsibility,” Andy looks over to Ransom, and shakes his head.
“I said I’m good,” leaning forward, Andy kisses the top of Audrey’s head. She’s so still if it wasn’t for the steady rise and fall of her back, Ransom would think she was just a doll.
“Tatum wasn’t there. This isn’t her fault.”
“I know. We’re still pulling them from the center. They’ll be fine at home. We’re looking into homeschooling if we need to. Even if we were okay with them going back,” his voice goes hollow as he looks down at the little girl, “I don’t think she’ll leave her mom’s side. She already was having some anxiety with her father. Ran, she was so scared. And then she saw her mom. The one person who has always been there for her, bleeding, and she thinks it’s her fault. She apologized because she thought she hurt the babies. My daughter thinks her mom’s distress was her fault.”
Andy’s voice stops. He’s run the day’s events over in his head too many times and they always make him more upset. “She’s not even trying to make excuses for Scott, but still she thinks — he wrecked on purpose. The drugs in his system or his inability to be a fucking man made him have a psychotic break. She wasn’t - wasn’t properly strapped in, and by some divine miracle, she’s just got a few bruises.”
“He’s here,” Ransom’s voice is so raw as he stares at his partner and friend. Andy’s face never changes, just his body.
“I fucking know,” Andy spits out. His grip on your hand tightens, and Ransom stares at your face. No reaction. “She’s sedated. Audrey had a melatonin gummy because she just wouldn’t rest. Neither have any idea what’s going on right now.”
“Let me take care of him,” Andy shakes his head no. “Let me do this for you.”
“No,” Andy lifts his head, and glares at Ransom. “Don’t ask me again, because I will fold under pressure. We are — you know our responsibilities.”
“Those people have never tried to kill your daughter. This beautiful angelic five year old child, he knew what he was doing. She — Andy, she could have…”
“I know!” Andy raises his voice. “And still she is in my arms, sleeping. I’m begging you to not ask me that. He will be disbarred. He has drug charges, he has child endangerment, and kidnapping charges, and so many other charges. I would rather a disgusting lawyer go to prison and suffer with his consequences than give him a quick and easy out, and then have that on our conscience. Have I made myself clear?”
Ransom nods his head as he settles back into his chair. “Two weeks, huh? Would they have been okay if…?”
“Yeah, they’d been in the NICU, but they’d have been okay. The longer they’re growing inside of her the better. Multiples are usually born early anyways. Ryden is almost the same size as Everly now,” it’s the first time Andy has smiled since being here. “The doctors said he is a big healthy boy, and she’s a dainty little thing. They’re okay.”
“You guys still going to family therapy?” Andy nods his head. “How’s Suede?”
“He wants to know when his mama and sissy are coming home. He cried a little bit earlier, and said he wanted his mama. She thinks he’s all about me, but when it counts, Doe is all he wants. Rosie though — she’s stressed. Charlene said she’s following Suede around like a shadow, or just wandering around in Audrey’s room.”
Ransom understands Andy’s decision. But his hands-on approach just wants to hurt Scott. “I’m going to take some time off,” Ransom nods. “I’ll need you to step up to oversee my duties. I want to get everything in order to adopt Audrey.”
“Yeah,” Ransom mutters as he goes to stand. “I figured as much. Your family needs you. Um, when Tatum isn’t sick, can we…?”
“I don’t blame Tatum, Ran. She wasn’t there. Had she’d been there I know my daughter wouldn’t have left with Scott. But I can’t forgive the center for this negligence. You know who informed the director?” Ransom shakes his head no. “Suede’s teacher. She said that Suede was crying and upset because his sister left with a scooter. My son is the reason that there was a fast response in getting in touch with Doe. They were all aware that Scott wasn’t allowed to pick her up. It was a trickle of perfect events for Scott. But Tatum would not have allowed him to take her. She’s still welcome in our home.”
Ransom nods again before he walks over to Audrey, kissing her head, and then to you. “Don’t push your luck,” Andy playfully tells him before Ransom walks out the door.
He’s aware that he might be a little too hot headed to have the position that he does. He knows that Andy is the practical one. The one with common sense and the one who always abides by the law. But that’s not Ransom. He reacts without thinking.
Walking down the long corridor, he takes a detour. Straight to Scott’s room. This time he’s awake, and staring at nothing. Eyes glazed over, and he reacts to Ransom’s tall shadow lingering in his doorway, “Came to gloat?” Ransom shakes his head no. “What do you want?”
“To tell you that you’re a piece of shit that should already have a body that’s starting to decompose itself.”
“Andy doesn’t deserve that life,” Ransom cocks up an eyebrow. “I don’t think my wife ever loved me. She always loved that prick. The prick that struts around, and acts like he’s so fucking untouchable.”
“Is that what your problem is? Andy?”
“Have you ever researched his life?”
“Parents don’t define us, Scottie. His father never raised him. In fact, if you want to be technical, I would say that his wife’s parents raised him,” Scott scowls up at Ransom. “Why did you do it?”
“I swerved to miss a pedestrian.”
“No, you didn’t. I’ve already personally oversaw the footage from a dash cam and Ring cameras. Try again.”
“She’s my daughter,” Ransom’s eyebrows lift. “I created her. Not Andy. He wants her the most, but if I can’t have her, no one can.”
“I’m going to ignore your dumbass comment because you know that Andy loves both those children. His love started with their mom, and went straight to them, and if you were any type of man, you would know how that works. You don’t even realize what special children you have. You don’t deserve them. So here’s what you’re going to do.”
Scott rolls his eyes before closing them, “You’re going to go to prison, and to make a situation easier, you’re going to give away your rights to Audrey. You’re going to rot with criminals that you couldn’t get out of trouble. You’re going to let that little girl have Barber’s last name. She’s going to be comfortable, and feel like she belongs with her family. And you’re going to leave them alone for the rest of their lives.”
“Why’s that? Why does he get what he wants?”
“Because you didn’t actually ever want them. You didn’t want children, she did. You didn’t want marriage, your mom did. You didn’t want to be a lawyer, your dad did,” Scott opens his eyes to scowl at Ransom, “Yeah, I’ve been doing some research on you, Scottie. If you didn’t grow up to be a complete dickhead, I’d feel sorry for you. But you got what you wanted. Old habits die hard, don’t they?” Ransom feigns boredom, and looks at his fingernails. He actually just despises looking at Scott’s face.
“And if I don’t walk away easily?” Ransom smirks as he backs out the door, “Is that a threat?”
“I didn’t say anything, Scoot.”
Andy leans back in the hard chair as he checks his watch. He shouldn’t exactly blame Scott this time. He’s not on his own time. He looks behind him at the officer, but she only shrugs. Scott has been wasting his time for too long.
The clock is annoying, ticking at an annoyingly perfect rate. It’s because Andy would rather be at home with you and the kids. You’re thankfully resting, but Audrey struggles to leave your side. Every groan you make, her eyes go wide, and you see anxiety vibrating off her. Suede is the comedic relief in the house.
He did not like that you, Audrey, and Andy were not at home for a night. Even cried in your arms when you returned. Even though he knows something is wrong, and knows Audrey should be at school, he doesn’t get the root of the issue exactly. Knowing that Scott took his sister, and it upset him to the point of not being consoled. But the feelings didn’t linger like they do with Audrey.
Andy sits up straighter as the door on the other side of the panel of glass opens. He doesn’t change his features even though when he sees his smug face he wants to rip every vein out of his body slowly. This is the man that almost changed his entire life.
Scott sits in front of him, but just stares through Andy. Doesn’t move for the receiver even when Andy picks his end up. Andy points to the phone before Scott ever places it against his ear. “What could you possibly want?” He asks, leaning back in his chair. “You got what you wanted. You got the wife, got the son, and,” Scott sighs as he wipes his hand hard down his face, “And you made sure I won’t be seeing my daughter for a long time.”
“I did that?”
“I never liked you. Didn’t realize you were the one that she replaced with me,” Andy snarls as he leans forward in his chair. “You don’t like me saying that out loud? Look at the similarities.”
“Law degree. That’s it.”
“So what exactly do you fucking want? I’m wrongly in jail.”
Reaching into his pocket, Andy pulls out a piece of paper, “Attempted kidnapping, simple kidnapping, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, child endangerment…”
“That’s enough,” Scott says angrily. Andy slowly lifts his eyes from the paper, ready to read the remaining charges should Scott continue to accept responsibility.
“There’s several more charges if you’d like me to continue, seeing how you’re wrongly in here.”
“I keep asking you what you want, and you keep being a prick,” if Andy was a lesser man, he’d be rolling his eyes. Scott wants a reaction from him. Andy truly holds the upper hand, but everything that he says is being recorded, so choosing his words well matters.
“I want you to actually think about Audrey for once,” Scott’s eyes move downward, avoiding Andy’s gaze that never falters. A gaze that makes the hair on his neck stand up, and his insides squirm. “I want you to really think about all she’s been through in the past six months. I want you to remember how intelligent she is, and how emotionally mature she is. She knows where you are. She watched you be led down the hospital hallway in cuffs.”
Scott swallows deeply, closing his eyes. He doesn’t know if he wants to block Andy out, or torture himself with what he’s saying. “Audrey doesn’t deserve everything that’s happened in her short life. She deserves to start to heal.”
“And I suppose you’re the one that’s going to make her heal?” Andy sees for once in Scott’s pathetic life a reaction. His eyes rimmed in red, and not because of the drugs in his system. For the first time Andy could almost believe Scott has emotions. “You took everything from me.”
“You threw everything away before I ever entered the picture. You were well on your way with the divorce before she ever stepped foot in Ransom’s office. You did that. You pushed, and pushed, and you did the one thing that you knew would make her file for divorce, and that’s have an affair. And she filed. You know, I think you actually care for Audrey.”
“I love my daughter,” Scott whispers, looking back down. Shame. It’s the most pathetic excuse of love and care, but it almost is there. It’s warped, but still a twinkle of care for Audrey is there.
“I think things weren’t going your way. I think you thought she would take you back, and maybe you could get a handle on Suede. But she was done. Did you love her?” Scott doesn’t say a word, and that is confirmation enough for Andy. Two people that got married because they thought they should. Not because love was involved. A contract of people that were going to build a life together, and be the perfect spouse.
“I want you to think about Audrey during this.”
“I don’t know what you mean by that,” Scott looks up at Andy with his face ashen and blank. “What exactly do you want me to do? I do think about my daughter.”
“I want you to do right by Audrey,” Andy never calls Audrey ‘Scott’s daughter’. She has not been his daughter for quite some time.
“Meaning what?”
“If you’re convicted what does her future look like? You’re looking at some major time here. She already feels out of place at her home. She knows there’s this looming thought that she has to leave, while her siblings stay at home,” Scott sits stoic and unspeaking. Andy hopes that he understands what he’s asking of him without asking.
He hopes that Scott does the one good thing in Audrey’s life, and let Andy adopt her. Let Andy give her security that she is begging for. Andy could sink the knife in deeper and let him know that Audrey cried herself to sleep on his chest whispering for her not to see Scott again. Whether she realized it or not, that’s the day that she stopped calling him daddy.
She saw how low he had sunk, and just how cruel he could be. Purposefully wrecking his car, while you had to listen to it. It’s was a despicable kind torture. He tried to hurt you and Audrey in the worst way. It’s something Andy will never forgive Scott for. The only reason he’s standing now is because you, Audrey, Ryden, and Everly are okay. There will be healing, but there will be joy with the birth of the twins.
“You want her?” Andy’s brow perks up as he stares solidly at Scott. “My daughter? You want her?”
“I want Audrey to have some security. You never know what the next few months could bring. I want — no, Audrey is in a bit of a shock from the traumatic event of taking her from a school that she adored with her friends, putting her in a car without her booster seat, and driving at unsafe speeds until you drove off a bank, and into a tree. She got lucky. She does have a bruise from her seatbelt on her chest and her neck. Do you know why?” Scott glares at Andy, “Because she is too small to be in a car without a booster seat.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to do the right thing. Ransom and myself will not be working on the case for obvious reasons. I’ve taken some much needed vacation days to be with my family. Just do the right thing, Scott,” Andy removes the phone from his ear, and hangs it back up before scooting back his chair, and leaving Scott to stare after him.
He couldn’t exactly tell Scott to sign over his rights, and give Andy the ability to adopt Audrey. That just wouldn’t look good. He had to choose his words carefully, and now he hopes that Scott is smarter than he looks.
“Audrey,” Andy says calmly, and you die a little more inside. Your daughter clings to your stomach, but you have nothing in you to fight her. She experienced too much, and if she doesn’t want to be separated from you then she shouldn’t have to be. “It won’t take long, princess.”
“Can’t I just be in there with mommy?” Her fingers tighten on your stomach while so many emotions flood your mind. She hadn’t been the same since the wreck, and you can’t blame her. Scott made it very clear what he wanted to accomplish. It sickens you to even think about it.
“She needs a shower,” Andy says softly.
“But…”
“And I’m going to help her,” finally a laugh tickles your throat as Audrey sits up straighter, snarling at him. “Mommy can’t wash her toes anymore.”
“So you’re just going to do what? See her naked?” Andy nods. His mouth turns up into a smile. You’re glad that he can be a rock for you during this time because your emotions go from exhaustion to anxiety with a mix of tears to so happy and warm that everyone is at home every day.
“What are you wearing? If you wear that won’t your clothes get wet?”
“Princess, I’m not going to discuss how I’m going to get mommy showered. What I am going to do is help her shower because she has to be careful,” Audrey’s face falls and she glares at Andy before laying her head on your swollen belly, “Doe, don’t.”
Andy knows that you would give yourself a sponge bath in order for her to not feel like you’re abandoning her. “Nini and Suede will be out here with you. We’re just going to be in the bathroom.”
“I don’t want mommy to be away from me,” she pouts. Her little fingers start pulsing on your body. “I want her to stay right with me.”
“Baby,” you softly speak as you start to get up. Andy’s not wrong. As much as you would love to sit with her and hold her, you fear that this is not helping matters. “Give me and daddy twenty minutes. You will be able to see if we leave. But we’re not going to go anywhere.”
“What about the alarm?” Her brows furrow, and without a second thought, Andy walks over to the front door, and turns on the alarm. “Twenty minutes is a long time. Can it be five?”
“No. I can’t wash my body that quickly, I’m afraid.”
Her grip on you loosens only a little bit, “Can I wait outside the door?”
Andy takes a deep breath as he holds out his hands for you to get up. “I want you to give me and mommy ten minutes,” you don’t know why he’s asking for ten minutes, but it's enough for her to drop her arms from around your belly, “Nini can set an alarm, and after ten minutes.”
“I can come in the bathroom?” Andy shakes his no, and Audrey’s frown deepens. “Then what?”
“You can sit outside of the bathroom,” she growls, crossing her arms over her chest, and Andy gives you the final pull to lift you up off the couch. “You’re acting like your dramatic brother.”
“Me no dwama. Save at fow o mama!” Suede says. He hadn’t even paid much attention to the conversation, just kept playing with his LEGO set. “Oo is fuww of dwama. Audi dwama queen!” Throwing his head back he laughs a bit. Nothing over the top.
“Audi, let me get mommy in the shower, and I will yell for you to start the timer, okay?”
“I don’t like it,” she gives one head nod to emphasize the point. “So can I pick out your pajamas?”
“Only if they match yours,” you softly say as you start to head towards your bedroom. Audrey just sits on the couch, crossly looking at Andy following you. You sigh as you cross the doorframe of your bedroom. You hate bed rest. If you had it your way, you’d keep doing what you’d been doing. Living your life until the twins made their debut.
Instead you wait on your mom, your husband, and your children to do small things for you. Put your shoes on so you don’t lean forward. Bring you food, so you’re not walking around too much. She gets to do the best part of the laundry, and you’re stuck with folding. Your mom or Andy even prepare food for you. Check the mail. It is exhausting how you’re not doing your things.
You barely step foot into the bathroom before Andy closes the door behind you, locking it. Going to the shower, he turns on the water, and then he’s slowly peeling off your clothes. There is nothing sexual about this. It’s so gentle and smooth the way he pulls each article of clothing off you. He holds out a hand and he guides you into the shower.
With a bit more speed, he starts stripping his own clothes off, and he follows in behind you. You collapse in his arms. The hot water, and his warm embrace causes your resolve to melt, and you sob on his shoulder. Your body is situated to the side. If it was safe for the twins, you’d want them out, so you could truly melt into Andy’s body.
“I know, baby,” he coos on your head as he peppers kisses over your body. You didn’t realize how much you had been holding in. Making sure that you are strong for Audrey when in reality you just want to be held, and told that it is okay. “I’m so sorry.”
“H-h-he took my baby. Was he trying to kill her?”
“I don’t know, honey,” clinging to his arms, your voice cracks as a guttural weep overtakes your body. Scott pretty much confirmed to Andy that’s exactly what he was trying to do. If he can’t have her, nobody can, “She’s with us now. And he won’t ever see her again.”
“You said…”
“I know what I said, but kidnapping and attempted murder,” a whine tears through your body, and Andy pulls you in even tighter. You aren’t crazy. Andy said a charge that he had no intentions of telling you about. You trusted him, and knew that he would do whatever he could within his power to make sure that Scott paid the ultimate price for that day. “We will make sure that Audrey stays with us.”
“Andy, she was so scared, and I felt hopeless. I knew what was happening to my body, but I needed my baby. She is mine. I birthed that child, and have raised her, and loved her. She is my heart outside of my body, just like Suede. And I couldn’t think about anything past getting to her.”
“And you did. You are the most amazing and bravest woman I have ever met. Your body was going through preterm labor, and you got to our daughter.”
“When will our kids stop suffering because of him?” There’s a lot of things Andy could say. He could say that Ransom offered to make sure that Scott never saw another day in his life. He could say that Scott will be spending the rest of his life in jail, even though it’s not true. He could tell you that Audrey may never remember this, and that’s a lie. Instead he lets you feel the comfort from his arm.
“She can’t heal as long as he’s coming in and out of her life,” Andy has no idea what Scott’s plans are concerning his rights with Audrey. He can only hope that a shallow pathetic excuse for a man does one decent thing in his daughter’s life, and lets her go to someone that loves her, and will take care of her. “My baby is not herself.”
You gulp as Andy pulls away from you. Your husband grabs a washcloth and puts shower gel on it. Sudding the cloth up before he starts scrubbing your arms. That same care he took undressing you, he shows now. Washing off the past few days.
That’s what you try to envision anyways. That the suds swirling down the drain are those memories. That it’s the worry and nightmares you have of your daughter crying for you. Your daughter kicking and screaming at Andy, Ransom, and your mom as she begged to stay at the hospital with you and the babies. You want to erase every bit of that day.
You wish that you had picked her up earlier. That was your plan that day. But that monster got to her first. You gaze down at Andy as he sinks to his knees. He kisses over your belly before he brings the cloth to your skin. Dipping even lower he washes your legs.
You replace every horrific memory of Scott for the perfect ones with Andy. Remember the way that he looks as he fixes Audrey’s hair. Remember the way that Suede piggybacks on him through the house. Focus on moments of him laying on his belly on the floor while the three of them color in a giant coloring book. The times of the four of you running in the front yard playing tag, and how Andy ran much slower than he actually does just to listen to the three of you giggle.
Watching from the front porch one morning as Andy hangs up a board swing from the most perfect tree branch. And all because it looked like the one at your parents’ house. When he was completed with the task, he asked you to try it out for him. When you sat in it, he was already behind you, pushing you. Reminding you of how your first kiss was on that swing with Andy sitting right beside you.
“Remember how you mentioned how red my cheeks got?” He reminded you. You remember everything from that day. The fuzzy feeling in your stomach when Andy pulled apart from you with a smile. The way he quickly looked in front of him, and his traitorous cheeks flared red. You love when his cheeks give him away. Now he’s so much more confident.
“What are you thinking about, Doe?” Andy asks from his knees. “You’re smiling,” it’s the first true smile he’s seen from you since that day. He’s been worried that Scott had finally broken you. Of all the things he’s done to you, you learned to cope. But involving a kidnapping and endangering Audrey on purpose was the final straw.
“I was thinking about our first kiss.”
“What about it?” He smirks up at you, his lips start kissing over your belly again. You start running your fingers through his hair. Normally this position has you keening wtih pleasure, but now it's making you feel more love than you have ever felt from anyone.
“Not just the one on the swing.”
“Which kiss? That was the first,” yes, the first kiss. It was merely a peck.
“Maybe the first one with tongue,” his cheeks turn the tiniest tinge of pink. “Do you remember it?”
“We were in the tree house,” he says, clearly trying to minimize kids turning into teenagers and realizing things happen to their body.
“And I asked you to kiss me with your tongue,” Andy either was seriously that naive, or you were just that fast, and ready to experiment with him.
“And I didn’t understand.”
“And I reminded you about a movie where you see his tongue go into her mouth, and you got all squirmy. And then,” oh his cheeks now are the prettiest shade of red. You love when his calm veneer starts to fall, and his old geeky self pokes through.
“I asked you to sit on my lap like they did in the movies. Pretty sure that’s the first time I have ever had a hard on,” he may be a bit bashful right now, but he isn’t shying away from the conversation. You knew you felt him.
“Did you think about me when you went home?”
“I was always thinking about you, Doe. I’ve always been crazy about you. From the first moment you sat beside me on that bus, and you were cursing my bullies. You had me wrapped around your little pinky immediately. But I suppose you’re wondering if I thought of you sexually?” You nod as he starts to stand up.
He kisses over your sensitive neck, and you lean to the side to give him all the access he could need, “You’re the only one that has ever been in my spank bank. We’re aware that we’ve been with other people. But every woman I ever had after you, I would keep my eyes closed, and pretend it was you. They never were.”
Standing up straight he pushes his forehead against your own. Hands on your hips as he pulls you as close to him as the twins allow, “They never smelled like you. Their hips never felt the same when I gripped them. They never sounded as pretty as you. I never got over you, Doe, and I never will. I will always desire you, and I will always be there to protect you and our kids.”
Talking about the other women Andy have been with should bother you, and somehow it doesn’t. “So every woman you slept with, you just pretended they were me?”
“I tried to pretend they were you. It was the most meaningless sex life. There was no fulfillment.”
“I — you weren’t the only one who did that,” your voice is barely audible. Your eyes drift close, and you open them again to gaze at the beautiful kaleidoscope of blues and greens that make up his eyes as he stares at you.
“I know,” he says with the cockiest grin. “And I will never talk about our past ever again. And if it doesn’t pertain to the case,” he leans into you, kissing right behind your ear with such a gentle peck. He moves to the shell of your ear, “We’ll never talk about Scott ever again. Promise?”
“Give me two good reasons.”
“Audrey,” he kisses your neck, “And Suede,” he gives you another kiss. This isn’t about separating them from his biological children. This is him reminding you that not talking about Scott is not important because they are.
“Andy, I feel I’ve loved you my entire life, and I just love you more everyday. Thank you for us.”
“Mommy? Daddy? It’s been twenty minutes,” you choke out a laugh, placing your forehead on Andy’s shoulder as you sniffle. “Can I come in?”
“I have to get mommy dry,” Andy chuckles. He peeks outside of the shower, and looks back at you teary eyes, “Her hand is under the door,” he awes before sighing. You needed these twenty minutes, so he would do it all over again. And even though she wants to be with you so much that she’s trying to get to you, it’s still adorable.
“Then you should wash up, and we should get out, and get jammies on,” her voice muffles. She had to have pushed her face up against the door to get that sound.
“You’re welcome,” he whispers against your body before reaching around you for the soap, “And thank you for being the best part of my life,” you bite on your lip as you watch Andy start to scrub his body. Eyeing the suds dripping down his shapely tits before creating rivers down his body. “Stop checking me out.”
“Stop being sexy.”
“You stop being sexy,” he giggles, swiping his hand down over his chest, and you roll your eyes, “What?”
“I am not sexy right now.”
“Excuse me,” finishing up with his rinsing, he turns off the water, glaring at you. But it is the silliest glare. “This,” Andy’s thick hands grab onto your stomach, “Is mine, and it is sexy. Do you know how hot it makes me when you and the kids come by the office, and you look like this. People not only know that we fuck, but they know that I was coming in your pretty little pussy until you were blooming and growing with me. Yeah, everyone knows I fuck you. That’s sexy. Muah,” he kisses you hard on the mouth before stepping out of the shower, and holding out a hand for you.
“Don’t ever say you’re not sexy again, you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” you coo. He gives you a lingering kiss as he wraps a towel around you.
“Daddy! I hear you kissing! Let me in!”
“Princess, mommy has to get dry first.”
“Well, don’t look at her boobies!” He covers his mouth to keep from laughing, “And hurry up. I am in my jammies, and I’ve got mommy’s picked out.”
“Daddy, you heard the princess. We should hurry up,” if you could hold onto this moment, you would. You love your family moments, but there is something so precious about moments just with Andy. One of these days your children will grow up, and they’ll leave you. And twenty years from now, it’ll be just you and Andy. Your foundation as a couple is the most important thing.
It’s the best advice your mom ever gave you. A loving mom and dad is the best thing for your family.
“Mama, out der?” Suede points out the front door, begging to go outside in the yard. “Pease? Audi, oo, too?” Audrey snuggles in tighter to your belly, and you groan as you shift positions.
“Are the babies okay?”
“Yes, princess. Mommy is just moving, so we can go outside with bubba.”
“I don’t want to,” you look up at Andy who walks into the living room. “Can’t we just stay in here?”
“Suede is right,” Andy says with both hands on his hips. “Mommy needs some sun, and so do you. Come on,” he walks over to your side, and grabs your hand. Assisting you to get up before he looks at a pouting Audrey. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
“She’s not even in the bed,” her voice gets a bit louder while she points at you. “The doctor said bed rest. Not couch rest, and not rest outside. Bed rest!”
“That’s not what he literally meant. Mommy still has to potty, and bathe, and…”
“Is that why you help her shower?” Your mom cocks up an eyebrow as she watches Andy. This conversation happened regularly. Audrey did not like being made to be away from you, and all because he was bathing you. “Naked?”
“Yes. It is hard for mommy to get her pretty little toes clean,” Suede fakes vomiting as he walks towards the door. “Audi, do you think I would do anything to hurt your mom or the babies?” Even though her brows are furrowed, she shakes her head no. “I want you to run around with your brother and Rosie for at least ten minutes.”
“No,” she pouts, tears already coming to her eyes as she grabs your hand.
”Mommy and I are going to sit on the porch. I will not leave her side.”
“Do I have to?” you are struggling with this just as much as she is. But you don’t want to be the reason that she isn’t healing. Just having to shower has been a struggle. There is a conversation every night about how long you’re going to be and if she can be in there with you.
“Yes, you have to wait for at least ten minutes.”
“Can it be five minutes?”
“No,” he says calmly. Never once losing his cool while you’re screaming on the inside. You’re thankful he is the strong one, “At least ten minutes.”
“You promise you won’t leave her?”
“I promise, princess. Alright, honey. Up,” he pulls you up using his own strength more than you exerting yourself. Bed rest is torture. You don’t know what you would do without both Andy and your mom at home. He sometimes goes into his study and does some work, but that’s usually during quiet time. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” there is still some soreness. You’re dilated. You have to take each day slow. You’re not allowed to feel extreme stress. There’s so many rules, all the while your three year old is becoming bored to tears, and your five your old gets anxious just when you sneeze. And she hates family therapy sessions because they bring up Scott.
‘Scott daddy’ has been completely dropped. If she acknowledges him, it’s by his name. And that’s even more than he deserves. Audrey turns back around to grab a stuffed bunny that Ransom and Tatum brought her the day before, holding onto your hand and she walks outside to Suede who is already climbing up the slide.
“Set a timer,” she tells Andy before she clicks her tongue to call Rosie, and runs to the playset. Another gift from Ransom, but it was Tatum's idea. They needed a place to play in case you decided not to enroll them back in a center.
“She okay?” Your mom asks Andy, nodding her head in your direction.
“Mom!” You shout as you sit down onto the outdoor furniture with Andy right beside you. “I am right here. You don’t have to ask Andy, ask me. And I am fine,” his hand moves over to your belly. He rubs along the giant swell of the twins, and you watch your timid little girl trying to figure out what she wants to do. Does she want to swing, go in the playhouse, climb the rock wall, or go down the slide?
“She’ll get it,” Andy assures you. You want to believe him, but she just seems so broken. He broke your daughter. You can only hope that together as a family you can put her back together. “I spoke with one of the ADAs.”
That piques your interest, and you look over at him. Too often now you feel you’re just observing the life around you instead of just living. “Scott isn’t taking the plea bargain.”
”Didn’t think he would,” you assumed he would try to fight it. He’s so full of himself he probably doesn’t think he did anything wrong.
“He’s pleading no contest,” Andy lifts your chin to look at him. You don’t think you heard him right. “He — h-h-he’s signing over his rights,” his voice fully breaks, and he leans over on your shoulder. One hand grabs his hand that’s resting on your belly while the other holds his cheek. His tears wet your shoulder, and you’re struggling to hang onto a calm reaction. Your daughter needs that from you.
“What?” You squeak out. Sniffling and gripping so tight to his hand. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“Ransom just called. He’s signing over his — honey, she can officially be mine. He’s going to prison. Doe, I’m so sorry, baby. I have never been more scared in my life. It wasn’t just you, but our daughter, and our unborn babies. I won’t lose you. And now we can formally start the adoption. We can wait until after Ryden and Everly are born, and…”
“No,” you lift him up to look at you, and smile through your tears, “I want this to start as soon as possible. I want our daughter to feel like she belongs. She’ll be starting school in the fall, and I want her to officially be a Barber,” Andy looks so cute when his face goes all wonky, and he tries to remain strong.
Knowing that he loves Audrey this much tells you exactly how strong he is. He adores her so much. He was already willing to legally change her last name, even if he couldn’t adopt her right away. He was ready to fight Scott to make Audrey legally his daughter.
“Doe, I don’t need you to be stressed.”
“Stressed is knowing that we can do this, but you’re waiting. I’m fine. Audrey will be fine. Is this why you hide out in the study?”
“I don’t hide.”
“No, you’re keeping up with the DA’s office on Scott’s case because you couldn’t be a part of it for obvious reasons. But behind the doors that’s also what you’re doing, huh?” He just nods as he turns to look at Audrey more comfortably playing in the playhouse with Rosie right beside her. The ten minutes have passed, and she’s none the wiser.
“He was trying to save himself the embarrassment of those chargers,” you say. Your children will be better off forgetting about Scott. How someone that cruel could help you create the sweetest most amazing children, you’ll never know. “He didn’t want to be in a courtroom full of his peers while he answers to all those charges. Kidnapping, child endangerment, drugs, and I can’t even list them all.”
“You’re probably right,” you don’t need Andy to agree, you know you’re right.
“Audi!” You shout excitedly at her
“Are we telling her now?” You beam at Andy, nodding your head, “Princess, I’m…,” Audrey actually smiles as she and Rosie run towards the two of you. She crashes into Andy’s arms, and smiles up at him.
“Do you have a surprise for me?”
“We’re going to start the process to adopt you.”
“Really?” She squeals, and starts crawling into Andy’s lap. “Like really?”
“Yes, princess. You’re going to be my daughter, and your last name can be Barber just like everyone else’s, as long as that’s what you want,” Audrey looks at you, and then back at Andy. “You don’t have to decide right now.”
“Will you always be my daddy?”
“Yeah, even if you don’t…”
“I want you to adopt me,” her little fingers start to play with his shirt. Her gaze on her fingers more than him. “And be my only daddy.”
“Okay. Then I’m going to adopt you,” Andy wraps an arm around the back of the seat, pulling you close to him before kissing the top of Audrey’s head. “You want to go back and play?”
“Do I have to?”
“If it makes you happy, you should,” she gives him another hug, and crawls off his lap. Doing her adorable little clicking of her tongue for Rosie before going back to the playhouse. She’s going to be okay. You could see the relief of knowing that Andy will officially be her daddy chip away some of her fear.
Maybe she realizes she doesn’t have to see Scott anymore. Maybe she just knows that she is actually on a journey to heal now. And she knows that she is going to be a Barber.
Next
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